Signal



G. V. BURRIS.

SIGNAL.

APPLICATION FILED NOV-'12. 1919.

Patented Apr. 12, 1921.

2 SHEETS-SHEET].

G. V. BURRIS.

SIGNAL. APPLICATION FILE D NOV. 12. I919.

Patented Apr. 12, 1921.

[SHEETS-SHEET 2.

UNITED STATES GEORGE V. BURRIS. OF COURTLAND, CALIFORNIA.

SIGNAL.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patgi1ted"Ap1. :12, 1921.

Application filed November 12, 1919. Serial No. 337,528.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE V. BURRIs,'a citizen of the United States, residing at Courtland, in the county of Sacramento and State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Signals; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to railroad crossing signals, and the primary object of the invention is to provide an improved means for warning the'occupants of road vehicles of their approach to a railroad crossing, so that suitable precautions can be taken.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved signal adapted to be actuated by a road vehicle positioned across a roadbed, bridge, culvert or the like at a distance from the railroad track so that the attention of the occupants of the vehicle will be called to the fact that they-are approaching a railroad crossing.

A further object of the invention is to provide an audible signal, which is adapted to be actuated by a vehicle passing over the same, so as to warn the occupants that danger is ahead, such as a railroad crossing, a dangerous curve, or the like. 7

A still further object of the invention is to provide an improved vehicle actuated signal of the above character, which is durable and eflicient in use, one that is simple and easy to manufacture, and one that can be placed upon the market at a reasonable cost.

With these and other objects in View, the

*invention consists in the novel construction,

arrangement and formation of parts, as will be hereinafter more specifically described, claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, forming a part thereof, in which:

Figure 1 is a vlew of a roadbed, showing the improved signal embedded therein.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section through the same.

Fig. 3 is a transverse section taken on the line 33 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a detail fragmentary section taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a detail section taken on the line 5 -5 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a detail enlarged view of the bell removed fromgits signal actuating" mechamsm.

Referring to the drawings in detail, wherein similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout'the several views, the numeral 1 generally indicates'the improved signal which as shown is embedded in a roadway and extends transversely of the same, but it is to be understood that the same can be built in the floor-' ing of a bridge, if so desired.

The signal 1 includes a frame 8, which is adapted to be embedded in the roadway 2 and includes a pair of spaced parallel supporting beams 4 connected together at their upper edges by the transversely extending cross pieces 5. The cross pieces 5 have secured to their lower surface at the central portion thereof the longitudinally. extending supporting plate 6 which carries the bell or other audible signal mechanism 7.

The cross pieces '5 have mountedon their upper surface the longitudinally extending plates or bridge pieces 8, which extend entirely across the roadway. As shown, the plates are three in number and constitute a. portion of the roadbed. The central plate 8 is secured to the side plates by means of hinges 9 and the central plate is held in an elevated position by means of expansion coilv springs 10 which are coiled around the guide rods 11 secured to and depending from the lower surface of the-central plate. The'plates 8 extend downwardly at an'incline to the central plate and have their lower edges resting on the uppersurface of the cross pieces 5' for sliding movement. The guide rods 11 extend entirely through the member 6 and have threaded on their lower ends nuts 12 which limit the upward movement of the. rodand the plates 8. 'The upper terminals of the rods 11 are provided with heads 13 which are preferably counter sunk in the upper surface of the central plate.

Thus, it will be seen that the central plate 8 is normally held in a raised position hicle rides over the plate, the same will be depressed, the purpose of which will be hereinafter more fully described. The crosspieces 5 have also secured to their upper surface adjacent to the outer ends thereof the longitudinally extending pieces '14, Which are arranged in spaced relation to by the expansion spring 10 and when a vethe free edges of the side plates 8 and form stops for the side plates when the plates are depressed and also form a tread surface for the signal.

The lower edges of the longitudinally extending beams 4 are provided with anchoring plates 15 which extend in opposite directions at right angles to the beams and form an effective means for preventing the displacement ofthe frame. The frame is also provided with end pieces .16, which prevent the entrance of dirt and the like into the frame.

Lateral movement of the plates 8 is pre vented by means of the flat guide rods 16 which are secured to the lower surface of the side plates 8 and extend outwardlytherefrom and slidably engage the upper surface of the beams 4i intermediate the cross pieces The guide bars 16 are received in U-shaped guide brackets 17, which have their lower terminals twisted at right angles to provide attaching means 18, which receive suitable fastening elements 19 which.

extend into the inner surface of the beams 41: and hold the guide brackets against displacement.

The signal bell 7 includes a base plate 20, which is secured to the lower surface of the member 6 adjacent to the central portion thereof and the same is provided with an actuating rod 21, which is normally held in its raised position by means of a spring 9'2.

The actuating rod 21 is provided with an actuating plece 23, which engages the lower surface of the central plate 8. The rod is slidably received in suitable openings 1 1 1 iormed in the base plate 20 and tnememoer 6 and the base plate is provided with suit.

of which is provided with a plurality of ratchet teeth 29 which are adapted to en- 'e a iinion 3O rotatabl mounted upon a a, J .L

shaft 31 carried by the bracket. The pinion 30 has secured thereto the clapper arms 32'wh1ch are mounted eccentrically to the bell 33, which issecured to the bracket 26. r

In operation of the improved device, when a vehicle rides over the plate 8, the weight of the same will depress the plate against the tension of the coil springs 10 and thus force the operating rod 21 downwardly and rotate the pinion '30 and throw the clapper arms 32 into engagement with the bell, which.

will call the attention of the occupants of the vehicle to the fact that they are approaching a railroad crossing or other difficulty in which precaution should be used. Signal posts 35 are carried by the pieces adjacent each end thereof having their upper terminals bent angularly as at 36 and carrying suitable cross arms 37 which have written thereon suitable legends for warning the applicants of the vehicle of the danger ahead. 7

While the signal mechanism can be placed any suitable distanceaway from the railroad crossing, it has bee found that the preferred. distance is approximately eight hundred feet. a

In practice, I have found that the form of my invention illustrated in the accompanying drawings and referred to in the above escription, as the preferred embodiment, is the most efficient and practical; ye realizing the conditions concurrent with the adoption of my device will necessarily vary, I desire to emphasize that various minor changes in details of construction, proportion and arrangement of parts may be resorted to,'when required without sacrificing any of the advantages of my invention as set forth.

What I claim as new is:

.A signal comprising a supporting frame adapted to be placed in a roadway and embedded therein, a sectional tread member mounted on said supporting frame, a signal supporting member positioned within said supporting frame-beneath the central section of said tread member, signal carried by said signal carrying member, an operat-- signal extending upwardly "ng rod for said through said signal. carrying member and engaging the under face of the central section of. said tread member, means engaged around said signal operating rod to resiliently retain the latter in unoperated positionand in engagement with .the under face of said centralsection of the tread member, means positioned between said central section of the tread member and said signal ,arrying member to resiliently retain the central section of said trcad member in ra sed position, guide arms for said tread 

